Track of the Day: Akouo “So Long” (2018)

Tasmanian producer Akouo has followed up last year’s incredible “Feel That” (featuring Montaigne) and his recent collaboration with LANKS (the dreamy “Yours”) with head-nodding new track “So Long” co-written by and featuring friend and vocalist Janeva. Seamlessly blending electronic production with his Akouo’s background in underground hip hop, the track is a festival-ready banger that should easily slink into summer playlists across the country.

Janeva’s eccentric performance and jazzy vocal hook dance across the heavy percussive layering, climbing higher as Akouo stays steady with his starry synths and trippy beat. It’s proves a potent platform for a song about being on the receiving end of an unfaithful lover and emerging a better person. It works well for a song that was never intended to actually be a song.

“I produced the beat originally to pitch for a remix which never came out, but I still really loved it”, explained Akouo. “I wanted to use it still, so I sent to out to some vocalists, and a friend picked it up and made it something so much better.”

The eclectic producer will soon be joining Elk Road, Human Movement and others at Cassia Bali, but also has a national tour planned with some festival slots yet to be announced. Stay up to date with Akouo on his Facebook page.